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I will only agree to go to a Coney Island for the rice pudding. Sorry, I don’t eat hotdogs. Now, I never said I didn’t like hotdogs….

I just choose not to burp a hotdog all day long. Gross.

Besides, does anyone even know what hotdogs are anyways?!?! We all have our own speculations and just the thought of that alone convinces me to order the Greek salad with extra beets. Yup, I’d rather have a vegetable that taste like dirt.

This rice pudding recipe first came from my Aunt Faith. (Nellies sister) Aunt Faith got this recipe from a local Coney Island restaurant, but my lovely mother (Nellie) will deny all facts the Aunt Faith had this recipe first! Sisters….. My point is, THIS RECIPE IS A TRUE AUTHENTIC CONEY ISLAND RECIPE!

Ok, let’s talk raisins. Love them, or hate them? I’m on the fence.

You will never see me grab and pound down that little red box, that has a solid block of raisins all stuck together. Why such a small box, anyways?

I’ll tell you why! It’s because this tiny box was designed for the of the pointer finger only.

You have to take your pointer finger to break the raisins apart, making everyone look like they’re a sloth scratching and digging for ants. You know….what I’m talking about!

Then there is always that annoying last raisin stuck in the corner that never comes loose on its own. Once again, you can only use your pointer.

My other reason for loving Coney Island rice pudding is the creammmmm….mmmm peel back the seal on those individual mini coffee creamers and then pour as many as you can until it almost over flows.

Then drop half of the empty containers on the floor, so the waitress doesn’t think you have dairy issues.

Un-refrigerated coffee creamer is a standard condiment for every Coney Island! Make room ketchup and mustard!

Long grain rice is most commonly used for rice puddling. I also like to use jasmine rice. It gives a slightly floral scent and taste.

Use vitamin D milk for best flavor and creaminess. 2% works good too.

Once the rice is completely done and the milk is thicken by the starch of the rice; add one tempered beaten egg. Finish with vanilla and butter.

In a large stock pot combine the milk, water, (raisins if using) sugar, rice and salt. Leave on medium heat stirring often for about 40-45 minutes or until the liquid has reduced down about 2 inches and the rice in done and has thickened the milk.

Turn heat to low. Beat the egg in a liquid measuring cup; add enough water to the egg to equal 1/2 cup of liquid. Add 1/4 cup of the rice mixture to the beaten egg, stirring instantly.

Add the tempered egg mixture to the rice stirring instantly. Turn heat back up to medium and bring just to a boil then remove from the heat.

Add the vanilla and butter. Pour into your dishes of choice. Sprinkle the top completely with ground cinnamon.

Serve warm with a splash of cream. So creamy and delicious!

*Recipe stolen from Nellie and revealed to the planet first on Tahnycooks!

Sometimes I feel so humbled by the untainted love God has for me. Gosh, I mess up so often, and yet He loves me with a love that is so perfect and never ending. His love covers me like the morning dew, so soft, clean, pure and refreshing….

My husband is the biggest blessing God has blessed me with. Which in turn makes me fall in love with my Savior all that much more. When The Lord was creating Kent, He had me in mind.

“I am my lover’s and my lover is mine…” Song of Solomon 6:3 NIV

Things I Love about Kent:

1.) he loves The Lord

2.) his ability to tell me, “it’s ok” and I believe him

3.) he is the best daddy ever

4.) he has the ability to make me whisper, “I love you Kent” when he’s not even around.

5.) he loves my food (but he is getting a little too comfortable in his critiquing, he has picked that up from my father)

6.) he ignores my stress during stressful catering jobs and still helps me (BeckyF & Samantha, you both have witnessed this many times)

7.) his dry humor

Things I would like to change about Kent, but love him anyways are:

1.) he hates nuts (so annoying)

2.) he gives me a 5 minute delay before he does anything I ask

3.) he wrestles too hard until he makes someone cry. (Yes, even his own children)

4.) he NEVER puts the milk or orange juice away

5.) he don’t cook. ANYTHING EVER, he would rather starve. (I don’t get it either)

I figured I should stop there and make sure the “I love” column was longer! I will say, the latter column; I typed through it like lightning! 😉

Kent and I have been married for 10 years. Yes, as with all marriages there have been a lot of up’s and down’s, but keeping God in the center of our marriage and giving Him the broken pieces to mend and place back together, has only made our marriage stronger. We have been blessed, because of perseverance.

Hold steadfast in whatever difficult situation you might have, you will be blessed! My prayer is that Kent and I won’t have too many difficult situations, but that we will never grow numb to the importance of our marriage staying strong in the foundation of God always being 1st in everything.

“But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15 NIV

Oh besides, Kent and I have said, “we will never get divorced because we are too cheap and it’s too much paper work!” 😉

Kent loves chocolate. I’m convinced he loves chocolate because I don’t make it that often. Find out why HERE.

Remove the cream from the heat as soon as it starts to get small simmering bubbles around the saucepans’ edges.

Position rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 325°F. Arrange six 3/4-cup ramekins in a roasting or 9×13-inch pan.

Place the chopped chocolate in a medium sized bowl; set aside.

In a medium saucepan, heat the cream over medium heat until it’s steaming; remove from the heat and pour over the chocolate. Let sit for a few minutes, then whisk until smooth.

Whisk together the egg yolks, sugar and vanilla. When the chocolate mixture has cooled a bit, whisk in the egg yolk mixture. Divide the custard between the cups, and pour warm water into the pan to come halfway up the sides of the cups.

Bake for 25-30 minutes, until the custards are set. Cool, then refrigerate until well chilled.

Bonjour! I’m feeling a little “French” today. With all this romance floating around with Valentines Day coming this week I thought I would make a French dessert.

I didn’t have time to make any pastry or custard like almost all French desserts require, so I went with this easy and delicious spread. The contrast of this white sweet vanilla cream spread looks stunning with bright red berries. You can also serve this with vanilla wafers, brownie chunks, all fruits, pound cake and just by the spoonfuls!”inks.l,xiliodfijtjgigjgjg gedomnbvijijokokkkk,kkkkkklp Continue reading →

So yes, for those of you that are doing the math IT’S BEEN A LONG TIME! (I’m 35, if that helps some of you)

Over the years I have developed quite a phobia of chocolate. I don’t even eat things that are even drizzled, touching, frosted, coated or scooped out with the same spoon as chocolate. I’m totally overboard with this, I know. But, as with anything I don’t even think about this. It’s just been my way of life for almost 23 years.

I do eat white chocolate without cocoa butter. White chocolate isn’t even really chocolate, it’s just a delicious creamy candy. And as far as soda pop, COME ON THAT STUFF IS AWFUL FOR YOU!

However, I do love the smell of a rich chocolate dessert baking. And who doesn’t love the smell of coffee?! Sometimes I’m tempted, but I never surrender.

Ok, now that I have made my confession and I feel this freedom, I want to share with you my requested birthday cake when I did eat chocolate.

I would beg Nellie to make me this cake all the time. I’d eat this cake until I was sick. And by golly if I were to ever eat chocolate again this is what I would eat first and then second!

Nellie would make this cake in a bit of a different style. But all the ingredients are the same.

Make and bake your cake. This is a very runny batter.

While the cake is baking; make filling. The raspberries were beautiful. Gently fold the berries into the sweetened whipped cream.

Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Remove from oven. Cool completely.

Cut into 18-20 squares. Then split each square into two. Fill with the filling. Smooth the sides. And dip all sides into the ganache then cover the top. Or, leave the sides exposed and just spoon the ganache over the top. Garnish with a raspberry.

*Chocolate Raspberry Cake Squares first seen and created on Tahnycooks.

*Side note: Using a heart shaped cookie cutter would be super cute. I thought about it, but I didn’t want to have any cake scraps around since, I don’t eat chocolate! The square shape prevented scraps!

Have you ever had one of those days that it seems like everything you touch turns out as a stink’n disaster?!

Well, that was my day. It started like this:

Max shut his alarm off before I heard it in his room blasting off to the Superman theme song. So, because of this, he missed the bus. Which then resulted in getting Rudy Raccoon up from his sound sleep.

I kinda cherish the quiet mornings after Max gets on the bus. I really enjoy watching Beth Moore uninterrupted with Rudy’s wants and needs of the day.

You would think I could drop my child off to school on time, but no! And since we were running 3 minutes late I had to “sign him in” at the office. But before I surrendered to exposing myself (sweatpants, moon boots, no make-up, frizzy hair and a stained sweatshirt from the night before) to the other mothers that must get up at 5am to put on a nice pant suit, make-up and boots with heels, I seriously debated on just keeping Max home. Bad mom moment, I know…
When I get to feeling this way at times reading THIS HELPS ME.

Since Rudy and I were up and out already, I thought it would be safe to go to the library for only 37 seconds so I can get a movie and go hibernate back home. But….there was a lovely lady in there that noticed my 3 years and 4 month old is not potty trained yet. I wanted to cry and tell her, “I’ve been trying!” But, I just listened to her with a smile on my face while she was giving me her advice on how she had the miracle solution on how to get toddlers trained.

This ladies miracle solution was simple: “just let them run around at home with nothing on.” BRILLIANT! (Now remember, I’m desperate) She did say I would have to stay home all day and keep putting my child on the potty every few minutes.

Stay home all day: Check!
No clothes on my child, translation=no laundry: Check!

Accident 1 happened on the kitchen wood floor directly after sitting on the toilet for 8 minutes.

Accident 2 happened on the carpet. sigh…

Accident 3 happened directly on one of my kitchen drawers. I opened the drawer, and my ramekins were full of urine. I quickly called my friend Becky to get calmed down and to have her talk me out of going to the library and demanding this ladies address!

So after a good bleaching, and putting a diaper on Rudy, I had some rational thinking that I was the coo-coo one for trying this method, I decided pound cake would make things better. Prayer and baking calm me down.

The day was grey (in more ways then one) outside and I thought the refreshing taste of lemon with a sweet glaze was just what I needed to brighten things up around here!

Doesn’t it look yummy!

I can’t wait to have a slice or twoooo………nnnnNNNNOOOOOO!!!!!

This literally slipped out of my hands. I stood looking down at it for about 27 minutes in disbelief. Fortunately, I did eat the slice that is pictured above. This was 😦 delicious!
I will be making his again, but just not today. I gotta go, Rudy just spilled his milk! Shocking!

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease an 8 1/2 by 4 1/4 by 2 1/2-inch loaf pan. Line the bottom with parchment paper. Grease and flour the pan.

Sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt into 1 bowl. In another bowl, whisk together the yogurt, 1 cup sugar, the eggs, lemon zest, and vanilla. Slowly whisk the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients. With a rubber spatula, fold the vegetable oil into the batter, making sure it’s all incorporated. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for about 50 minutes, or until a cake tester placed in the center of the loaf comes out clean.

Meanwhile, cook the 1/3 cup lemon juice and remaining 1/3 cup sugar in a small pan until the sugar dissolves and the mixture is clear. Set aside.

When the cake is done, allow it to cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Carefully place on a baking rack over a sheet pan. While the cake is still warm, pour the lemon-sugar mixture over the cake and allow it to soak in. Cool.

For the glaze, combine the confectioners’ sugar and lemon juice and pour over the cake.

Recipe adapted from Ina Garten. I bet she didn’t drop hers! Or have pee in her ramekins!

Side note: Ephesians 5:20 (NIV) always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
I wouldn’t change a single thing about my life! I’m richly loved and forever accepted!

Rudy had his first friend over today. That’s pretty much all I can say.

I don’t get how wrestling is fun. And, I’m also confused by the constant announcement of farts. Passing gas is supposed to be a secret. Or, if you ask my husband he will tell you that woman don’t even poop. Denial.

The biggest thing that confuses me is how boys can just “move on” from a disagreement. They become best friends again directly after an all out brawl. I’m amazed by this ability boys have. There was no, “oh, no…youuuu….didn’t?!” or “I’m not talking to you” or “I’m not your friend anymore!”

Boys, they just “punch it out” and become ok, again. I certainly don’t get it! I almost feel like telling my boys sometimes, “that they need to really evaluate how that friend just treated you…or, maybe you should spend some time away from that friend..?…. maybe you should tell that friend how they made you feel….?”

Then I realize that I would be alienating my sons from having any friends EVER in their life! Boys, they got the “forgive & forget” thing down. Momma needs to just butt out. Ugggg, I just feel like we need to talk about this…..

I remember going to Kent’s house when we were just dating and I was hit in the face by testosterone! My husband has 3 brothers (and 1 sister) and when I was over there for one of the first times they all got in this huge wresting match in the living room. I didn’t realize this was “fun” I wanted to take cover behind the couch with the phone clutched in my hand and call a friend to come and rescue me. But, then I realized my best friend and weren’t talking so I would just have to resort to 911.

The thing that left me in awe was Kent’s mother. She just kept doing her house work. This tangled ball of boys hitting, choke holding, pinning and doing this thing called “full nelson’s” didn’t even phase her. I remember even seeing her step over the sweaty boys to get to the bathroom to put freshly folded towels away. I thought she must have been blind. But no, she is not blind, she is a mother of boys. She gets it.

Oh, and Kent’s father Ken, he just sat on the couch with the tv clicker in his hand turning up the volume because he couldn’t hear the tv over all the grunting. Then every once in awhile his father would mutter his now famous words, “it’s all fun until someone gets hurt.” Classic. Then once the WWF showdown was over, they would all sit together at the table all red faced and sweaty passing each other mashed potatoes. I would just sit there in silence, scared and so confused. I felt like I just wanted to tell Kent, “don’t give your brothers any potatoes, remember he just punched you!”

Ok, on to the cookies! And what cookie is more appropriate then Monster cookies for boys?!

My little monsters today…Rudy and Caleb. I tried my hardest to get them to smile sweetly, I even tried to threaten to take the candy away but, they started to cry and yell. I didn’t think tears would look like they had a good time. So, I settled for this…ugh, boys.

I mixed in every source of candy I could in this classic monster dough batter. Rudy did cry when the Reese’s Cups got poured in by Caleb. Rudy looked and shouted at Caleb, “why’d you do that?!?!”

I felt so privileged to have Batman and a pirate help me make cookies today

They need to work on keeping their portions a little more uniform.

I will say that Caleb was into making the cookies while Rudy was hoarding the Reese’s Cups.
Isn’t that a sweet face?!

After my Super hero’s left to go save the planet from another villain, I made the cookies a little more uniform, they turned out great!

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Cream butter with sugars until fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add vanilla and beat.
Combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Add to mixing bowl and mix till combined. After that, add in remaining ingredients in whatever quantity you prefer. Add more if you’d like, or more M & M’s, more Reese’s Cup, white or chocolate chips.

Strawberry Shortcake; not a dessert exactly in season, I know. But, Max has been asking me if he could (not me, him) make this fruity and sweet dessert since he read the book Cook-a-Doodle-Doo! at school. This is a great book to read together and then make this dessert together with your child/grandchild. Max could hardly wait to have me look up this children’s book on the Internet and to find the recipe this Red Hen used to make her famous Strawberry Shortcake!

So, let me introduce Weston to you. He is Max’s uncle and Kent’s youngest brother. He is tons of fun, 12 years old, and LOVES CHOCOLATE, SWEETS, CANDY and DESSERTS! My kind of guy!

I will never forget the time when Max was 4-5 yrs old, and he just came home from spending time over at Grandma Diane’s & Poppas house with Weston. I asked him if he had a good time, he said, “Yes, but Weston is making me call him Uncle Weston!” This just didn’t seam right to Max since they are only 3 years apart!

Kent likes to use one of Weston’s phrases he used when he walked through my door one day and saw a container full of candy poured all over my living room floor. Weston was wide eyed and stopped in his tracks and said, “I like…what I…..seeee….!”

These listed people below are the group of people that have a strong passion for dessert just like me! And today I’m officially adding Weston to this club.

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Toss the sugar and strawberries together and set aside.
Sift flour, baking powder, salt and cinnamon together. Cut butter into pieces and cut in using a pastry blender. Mix will look lumpy.
Mix in the egg and milk and mix with hands until dough is moist.
Place the dough in a round, 9 inch, greased cake pan. (I spilt the biscuit dough between two pans)
Bake for 15-18 minutes in a 425 degree oven.
Remove from the pan and allow to cool completely on a wire cooling rack. Then slice the cake through the middle so that there are two layers.
Spread the whipped cream on the bottom layer and top with strawberries. Place the remaining biscuit on top and repeat with whipped cream and strawberries.
Slice and serve!